1201.53—Record of proceedings.
(a) Preparation.
A word-for-word record of the hearing is made under the judge's guidance. It is kept in the Board's copy of the appeal file and it is the official record of the hearing. Only hearing tape recordings or written transcripts prepared by the official hearing reporter will be accepted by the Board as the official record of the hearing. When the judge assigned to the case tape records a hearing (for example, a telephonic hearing in a retirement appeal), the judge is the “official hearing reporter” under this section.
(b) Copies.
When requested and when costs are paid, a copy of the official record of the hearing will be provided to a party. A party must send a request for a copy of a hearing tape recording or written transcript to the adjudicating regional or field office, or to the Clerk of the Board, as appropriate. A request for a copy of a hearing tape recording or written transcript sent by a non-party is controlled by the Board's rules at 5 CFR part 1204 (Freedom of Information Act). Requests for hearing tape recordings or written transcripts under the Freedom of Information Act must be sent to the appropriate Regional Director, the Chief Administrative Judge of the appropriate MSPB Field Office, or to the Clerk of the Board at MSPB headquarters in Washington, DC.
(c) Exceptions to payment of costs.
A party may not have to pay for a hearing tape recording or written transcript if he has a good reason to support a request for an exception. If a party believes he has a good reason and the request is made before the judge issues an initial decision, the party must send the request for an exception to the judge. If the request is made after the judge issues an initial decision, the request must be sent to the Clerk of the Board, who shall have authority to grant or deny such requests. The party must clearly state the reason for the request in an affidavit or sworn statement.
(d) Corrections to written transcript.
Corrections to the official written transcript may be made on motion by a party or on the judge's own motion. Motions for corrections must be filed within 10 days after the receipt of a written transcript. Corrections of the official written transcript will be made only when substantive errors are found and only with the judge's approval.
(e) Official record.
Exhibits, the official hearing record, if a hearing is held, all papers filed, and all orders and decisions of the judge and the Board, make up the official record of the case.